Twenty3Fifty9One Minute to Midnight2011-05-17T00:11:13Zhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/wordpress/?feed=atomWordPressJeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/wordpress/?p=7832011-05-17T00:11:13Z2011-05-08T16:40:44ZAfter an unexpected hiatus, Twenty3Fifty9 returns to O’Rileys, Friday June 3rd with friends Cygnus X-3 and AOR, and more. Stay tuned for details as they become available.

Sharkbite Records will be releasing a Dream Theater tribute album in late May, featuring Twenty3Fifty9 — I’ll have a limited number to hand out to the first people who ask me about it …

Here’s the lineup for the evening:

8:00 — Cygnus X3
9:30 — AOR
10:45 — T3F9
12:00 — From Creation

–jeff

]]>0Jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/wordpress/?p=7762011-03-18T16:58:51Z2010-04-01T14:09:50ZSaturday, the boys will be back at O’Riley’s for an all-original rock showcase–five bands, starting with Twenty3Fifty9 at 7pm. The lineup also includes Millennial Reign, Scrap Iron, Bombay Black, and Skyforged.

We hope to see you there
–jeff

O’Riley’s
8989 Forest Lane
Dallas, Texas

]]>0Jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/wordpress/?p=7412009-11-10T04:48:13Z2009-11-10T04:46:15ZAlbum: The Count, Act I – The Soul Of A Prisoner
Genre: Symphonic/Progressive Metal
Release Date: Out Now!!!!

The debut album from American Symphonic/Progressive Metal act Twenty3Fifty9, “The Count, Act I – The Soul Of A Prisoner” is based on the book by Alexandre Dumas-Count of Monte Cristo and the album is about his imprisonment in the Chateau D’if .

Epic story,epic songs and epic band.

The music fits the story perfect and band is impressive during the 10 track long album.
Jeff Beardsley is a brilliant singer and Kristine Rios guests as the voice of Mercedes on 3 tracks and is fantastic. The production is good but is the one thing that I really hope the band gets a bigger budget for an even bigger production. They sure have proven that they deserve this with their first amazing record. I’m already looking forward to The Count,Act II:Intermission that the band is currently working on.

Here we have a high quality band from the Dallas area in the USA. TWENTY3FIFTY9 is playing Melodic Progressive Rock/Metal with some epic moments and actually their debut CD ‘The count, Act 1, The soul of a prisoner’ is a concept album that somehow reminds one of a mixture between SAVATAGE and DREAM THEATER. The band is already hard at work on a follow-up album, but fans of mentioned bands might wanna check out their first CD first. Not the best prog CD of 2009, but surely one to check out at: www.myspace.com/twenty3fifty9

(Points: 8.0 out of 10)

]]>0Jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/wordpress/?p=7352009-09-14T02:50:24Z2009-09-14T02:38:04ZIf you think the only music that comes out of Texas may be blues, country, or death metal, then I’ve got some news for you. The Lone Star State is home to a very intriguing and impressive progressive rock band by the name of Twenty3Fifty9, an allusion to ‘one minute to midnight.’ Formed in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 2005, T3F9 has been developing and playing their first act of Alexander Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo, a grand tale and certainly one of my favorites. When not playing The Count, Act I The Soul of a Prisoner during their shows, they fill the set with covers of Dream Theater, Kansas, and Iron Maiden. The influences are obvious within The Count bringing an epic sound to an epic tale of love, loss and political intrigue.

T3F9 are classic progressive rockers telling a profound tale using sweeping arrangements. Call this a very large homage to 70′s prog because T3F9 do not venture far from their historic roots. The songs rely on creative compositions with superb musicianship from clean soaring guitar, proactive bass lines, and a lush use of keyboards throughout. Indeed, the musical craftsmanship, from the lyrical base to the song composition, of The Count is preeminent and profound: a huge amount of thought and creativity went into this album. Remarkable cuts include the deeply emotional Betrayed, the intriguing and diverse Conspirators, and the moving Awaiting Justice. If there are any drawbacks to The Count, it would be in the vocal performance. Jeff Beardsley, though quite passionate, can be quite trying as he sounds somewhere between a nasal groan and whine. To my ears, I’m not really sure if he can sing.

Twenty3Fifty9 are already working on the next part of their The Count of Monte Cristo musical tale. If this work is any indication, it will be equally as profound and entertaining. Until then, you’ll just have to settle for The Count Act 1, and I strongly encourage you to get your copy.

IF YOU MISSED THE SHOW LAST WEEKEND at The Rock Star in Fort Worth, then you’re in luck! The same core lineup will be appearing together again this Friday at O’Riley’s.

This past weekend’s show was a lot of fun. Twenty3Fifty9 debuted a new song, which we will play again this next weekend, and we got to see two great newer progressive projects: From Creation and Millennial Reign, both of which put on great shows.

]]>0Jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/wordpress/?p=7102009-08-22T22:17:34Z2009-08-09T19:41:52ZLike classic literature? After a bit of epic prog? This might just be the album for you.

The Count, Act I – The Soul of a Prisoner is an ambitious debut from Dallas based symphonic, melodic, prog rockers Twenty3Fifty9 and tells the story of Edmond Dantes, later to reinvent himself as the Count of Monte Cristo. Based on the book by Alexandre Dumas, this album covers his imprisonment in the Chateau D’if and by flashback tells the story of how he ended up in this predicament. A second album, due at a later date, will cover his escape, search for the lost treasure of Monte Cristo, and how he exacts his revenge on those who imprisoned him.

It’s a hugely theatrical piece, giving the impression it was designed as musical/operatic theatre rather than for straight live performance by a band, although I suppose that’s usually taken as read from a prog concept album. Singer Jeff Beardsley has apparently been singing since age 12 and I wondered whether there was classical training in his background, the quality of his voice is so good. He also handles guitars with aplomb, and combine those with Brian Bradford’s keyboards, Tom Martino’s bass and Bill Ramkin’s drums the symphonic element really shines though – orchestration is pretty strong.

The only other voice featured is that of Kristine Rios on the duet Believe. A choral element would be that much more difficult to arrange, but I couldn’t help thinking the album would have benefitted from this – there’s no real backing vocals at all and with the hugeness of the instrumentation it lessens the impact of the vocals.

Inevitably some of the tracks are on the lengthy side, and to be honest I found my attention did tend to drift a bit, but it’s certainly an impressive, ambitious project and epic pretty much sums it up. Performed theatrically rather than a concert performance I imagine it would be enthralling. Certainly it has piqued my interest enough to wonder how they will pull off Act II.

]]>0Jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/wordpress/?p=7062009-07-21T14:07:21Z2009-07-21T14:04:36ZIt took a while before I knew how this band was called… But, I admit I was immediately under the spell of the awesome cover. The booklet easily shows that this is some kind of concept CD but what could I expect musically? I didn’t have a clue until I heard the intro; yes, this must be some Progressive Metal concept CD. Not the easiest music to write but if it works out you often have a masterpiece… I’m curious.

Damn, a pity that the production isn’t that good, not clear enough but I am impressed by the music that I hear. Not a bad singer, great guitar solos and very varied, call it some kind of creative high quality Metal with roots in the traditional Metal. And yes, there’s a strong epic touch present in all I hear in that very first song, called ‘Darkness’. I’m sure fans of epic US Metal will adore this opening track, although I warn you keyboards are making part of the songs. Does it bother me? No, not at all…

It seems this band wants to tell the story of Count Monte Cristo, a story written by Alexandre Dumas in 1844. This tale tells how a man, Edmond Dantes, was imprisoned, for many years without a reason. He survived, found a treasure at the Island of Monte Cristo and used it to take revenge. An everlasting story, I suppose it is the first time a Metal band uses it, awesome. So, meanwhile I’m listening to ‘Betrayed’, another good Progressive Epic Metal song, including some outstanding classic guitars. Oh yes, Twenty 3:Fifty 9 owns good points, but I still miss an overwhelming production and the vocals are after all too mediocre. ‘Homecoming (providence, part I)’ proves again that this band contains fantastic musicians! So this album goes on, containing good songs but the weak points stay present as well…

Twenty 3:Fifty 9 can’t hold my attention. I hear several great songs, other songs are too average to me. Too less songs keep on playing in my mind and that’s something I miss on this concept CD. For this kind of music and concept albums outstanding vocals and first class production is necessary, I miss both. Writing a concept Cd is a big challenge, therefore this band deserves all of my respect. Nevertheless I need to say the band got me into the story but I could too easily drop out of it and that’s a pity. Believe me I am sure this band can do far better; the ideas are fantastic, the musicians great!

Anyway I’d like to consider this as a strong release, a CD fans of Epic and Progressive Metal should give a chance. My Points: 80/100 (Review by Officer Nice)

Thanks to CDBaby, the album is available at lots of places, including those shown here. Be the first person on your block to own a copy of the album! And pass the word!

]]>0Jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/jeffhttp://twenty3fifty9.com/wordpress/?p=6652009-06-30T17:53:35Z2009-06-30T17:50:08ZTwenty3:Fifty9 – The Count, Act I – The Soul Of A PrisonerThis Dallas-based symphonic metal quartet released their eagerly awaited, self-produced debut mid-May. Clearly influenced by some of metal’s most prestigious progressive powerhouses (most notably Symphony X, Dream Theater, and Savatage), Twenty3: Fifty9 avoids many of the genre’s clichés by carving out their own niche, with an Andrew Lloyd Webber theatricality and melodic sensibility. Their 60-minute concept album, revolving around the Count of Monte Cristo, is certainly the most ambitious slab of local music to come along in years. Pick it up on their website, or better yet at one of their shows! (Jason Robert)
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